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T.S.DENISON & COMPANY,PubKshers,154W.RandolphSt., Chicago 



THE WATER THAT HAS 
PASSED 



A PLAY IN ONE ACT 



BY 

EDGAR MORETTE 

AUTHOR OF 

'Let Love But Hold the Key," Etc. 




CHICAGO 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 

Publishers 



P5 55^5 
THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 



CHARACTERS. 

Prologue and the Awakening. 
Malcolm Tearle. 
Fleming. 

HiGGINS. 

Mrs. Lucy Van Orden, nee Neville^ ^ 

The Dream. 
Malcolm Tearle. 
Doctor Morrow. 
Van Orden. 
Lucy Neville. 

Guests at the Dinner. 



Place — The Home of Tearle s Aunt in New York City, 



Time — TJie Present.. 



Time of Playing — About Thirty- five Minutes. 



Notice. — Production of this play is free to amateurs, but the sole 
professional rights are reserved by the author, who may be ad- 
dressed in care of the PubHshers. 

— 4o 



'V'-^^ 



COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY EBEN H. NORRIS. 

(6ci,D 46249 

FEB 26 1917 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 3 

STORY OF THE PLAY. 

After a long absence in Brazil, Malcolm Tearle returns to 
his aunt's house in New York. The family is away, but 
instructions have been left with the old butler for his recep- 
tion. In the course of a call from his friend Fleming, 
Tearle is reminded that exactly fifteen years have elapsed 
since their last meeting, the occasion of which was a dinner 
party given to celebrate Tearle's betrothal to Lucy Neville. 
Tearle recalls that the guests at this dinner were pledged 
to meet again on this very night in this very house. Fleming, 
like Tearle, had forgotten the promise, and he is unable to 
remain. Tearle does not expect any of the other guests to 
make their appearance ; in fact most of them are dispersed 
or dead — nevertheless he decides to delay dinner until the 
appointed hour. As he dozes before the library fire there 
passes before his vision the scene of the engagement dinner 
and of his quarrel with Lucy, which led to the breaking off 
of the match and to his going away from New York. He 
is awakened by the arrival of Lucy herself — now a widow — 
who, not knowing of his arrival, has called to see his absent 
aunt. Tearle, who has never ceased to love Lucy, proposes 
to her, and, for the second time, is accepted. Almost imme- 
diately the two lovers find themselves on the verge of a 
quarrel, and, convinced that Tearle is in love with his mem- 
ory of her, rather than with herself, Lucy finally declines 
to marry him, preferring to retain her place in his heart 
as an ideal rather than to risk the loss of his love as his wife. 



CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES. 

Malcolm Tearle — Forty years old, wears moustache, 
hair gray at temples. In dream scene, twenty-five years old, 
brown hair, clean shaven. 
. Lucy — Thirty-five years old. In dream scene, twenty 
years old. 

Fleming — Forty years old, clean shaven. 

HiGGiNS — Sixty years old, gray hair. 



4 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

Doctor Morrow — About sixty-five,white hair and mous- 
tache, bushy eyebrows. 

Van Orden — Thirty years old. 

Dummy to impersonate Tearle during the dream scene. 

Modern evening dress for all the characters except Flem- 
ing, who wears an ordinary business suit. 



PROPERTIES. 

In drawer of table, paper containing signed agreement. 
Watch, cigars, matchbox and matches, paper and pencil for 
Tearle. Engagement ring for Lucy. 



STAGE SETTING. 

Interior Backing 



Di ning Room Tab le 
I Zl 



r-i [— 1 Folding Door | — . r-\ 

/ ' ' with Portieres ' ' \ 

-*- Bookshelves Bookshelves -*- 

dow Door 

77 riArmChalp T 



Chair i_, , , i_, 

Window I 1 Door 

T Tabie T 

Note. — The transparent drop, or gauze curtain, mentioned in the 
stage directions on page 9, can be omitted by amateurs if desired. 

STAGE DIRECTIONS. 

R. means right of the stage ; C, center ; R. C, right cen- 
ter; L., left; R. D., right door; L. D., left door, etc.; 1 E., 
first entrance ; U. E., upper entrance, etc. ; D. F., door in 
flat or scene running across the back of the stage ; 1 G., first 
groove, etc. The actor is supposed to be facing the audience. 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 



Scene : Library of a house on Riverside Drive. Folding 
doors at rear covered by portieres and opening into a dining- 
room in which a table set for dinner can be seen zvhen the 
doors are open. Doors L. U. E. and L. 1 E. Windows 
R. U.E. and R. 1 E. Log fire in open fireplace between 
the windows R. Bookshelves against walls. Table L. C. 

At rise, front door bell rings. Enter Higgins frojn fold- 
ing doors and exit leisurely L. U. E., re-entering zuith 
Tearle^ who is in evening dress. 

Tearle. Higgins, you are a shameless flatterer. If you 
had met me on the street, I don't beHeve you would have 
known me from Adam. You think you recognized me ; but 
then you expected me, you see. Well, let that pass; but 
when you have the nerve to tell me that I have not changed 
— good heavens! Higgins, do you realize that it is fifteen 
years since I left New York, and that I had turned my 
twenty-fifth birthday before I sailed. Add fifteen to twenty- 
five and then dare to tell me that I have not changed. It 
is you, Higgins, who have discovered the secret of perpetual 
— middle age. I am glad to find you here and well, Higgins. 

Higgins. Thank you, sir. 

Tearle. Am I late for dinner? The steamer docked less 
than an hour ago. I had to dress on board. 

Higgins. Dinner will be served whenever you please, 
sir. 

Tearle. But how about the ladies ? Have they dined ? 

Higgins. Mrs. Ferguson and the young ladies are at 
Palm Beach, sir. 

Tearle. My aunt and cousins aw^ay? 

Higgins. They decided last Friday, sir, to go down for 
a couple of weeks. 

Tearle. Then my aunt did not receive the message I 
sent her by wireless from the boat ? 



6 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

HiGGiNS. Your telegram was forwarded to her, sir. Mrs. 
Ferguson called me up on the long distance phone to give 
me her instructions. Your room is ready, sir, and dinner 
is to be prepared for six. Mrs. Ferguson thought that 
maybe you would like to invite some one, seeing that you 
might be lonely. 

Tearle. Lonely ! That was thoughtful of Aunt Kather- 
ine; but I should be hard put to it to discover five people 
whom I could invite at such short notice. All my friends — 
if I ever had any — have died or married — or arrived. 

HiGGiNS. Then you will dine alone, sir? 

Tearle. I suppose so, Higgins. 

HiGGiNS. Very well, sir. {Bell rings.) That's the front 
door, sir; are you at home, sir? 

Tearle. At home, Higgins ? Why, man, I am hungering 
for the sight of any being on two legs who understands 
English as she is spoke. Show them up, Higgins, irrespec- 
tive of race, color or previous condition of servitude. 

Higgins. Very well, sir. {Exit L. U. E. Tearle looks 
about him reuiiniscently, opens portieres and looks into din- 
ing-room.) 

Re-enter Higgins ushering in Fleming. 

Higgins. Mr. Fleming. {Exit L. U. E.) 

Tearle. Fleming, old man. This is good of you! 

Fleming. I missed you at the boat. I thought I would 
just drop in to welcome you home. 

Tearle. You couldn't have come at a more opportune 
moment, my dear boy. I was seriously considering the 
advisability of going back to the Brazilian wilderness to 
escape this solitude. But now, my dear Fleming, you are 
going to take pity on me and stay to dinner. 

Fleming. I am sorry, old chap, but — 

Tearle. Fll not take "No" for an answer. There's no 
one here but me, you know — and the table is set for six. 

Fleming. I should like nothing better, Tearle, but you 
see — a previous engagement — Mary made it before I knew 
you were coming — you understand? 

Tearle. Yes, of course. I had almost forgotten that 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 7 

you are a benedict. How is Mary? The same beautiful girl 
as ever, you lucky dog ? 

Fleming. Oh, Mary's very well, thank you — too well, she 
says. She is growing— er— a trifle stout— like her mother, 
you know. Of course you can't expect the mother of four 
children— and, then, think of the time. How long is it since 
we met? 

Tearle. Fifteen years. What's the date to-day? 
Fleming. Twenty-third. 

Tearle. That's a coincidence, then — fifteen years, day 
for day. 

Fleming. Is that so? I had forgotten the date, but it 
was in this very house. Do you remember? 

Tearle. Remember ! Yes, old man, I remember, although 
I have spent most of the intervening years in trying to for- 
get. Do you happen to recall the occasion of that meeting? 
Fleming. Let me see — it was a supper — given by your 
aunt — 

Tearle. To celebrate the engagement of two young 
people, of whom I happened to be one. 

Fleming. Oh, yes. Now I remember — your engagement 
to Lucy Neville. It was very soon after that, that the en- 
gagement was broken off, wasn't it? 

Tearle. That same evening. I sailed the next day. 
Fleming {after a pause). Van Orden is dead, you know? 
Tearle. No, I had not heard. 

Fleming. Yes, Lucy has been a widow these three years. 
And you are not married yet, eh? 
Tearle. Oh, I am immune — now. 

Fleming. My dear fellow, no man is immune to love 
until he is dead. 

Tearle (laughing). Immune! The word reminds me of 
Doctor Morrow's cynical definition of love that night in his 
speech. 

Fleming. Doctor Morrow? He is dead too. 
Tearle. Is he? Funny old chap, wasn't he? "Love." he • 
said, "a dangerous, though seldom fatal, cardiac disorder; 
highly infectious, though not always contagious, caused bv 



8 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

the fortuitous propinquity of two individuals of opposite 
sex — specific, marriage." A tactful remark to make at an 
engagement dinner, wasn't it? 

^ Fleming. I remember you intimated something of the 
kind in your speech. 

Tearle. Ah! My speech — my maiden effort, carefully 
rehearsed beforehand and completely forgotten in the ex- 
citement of the moment. I fear that in my youthful intoler- 
ance I was not gentle with the old cynic. Something had 
happened in the course of the evening to ruffle me — and he 
sat there calm as a stone image with, a superior and irri- 
tating smile which drove me farther than I meant to go. 

Fleming. I remember. You challenged him to come 
back to witness for himself the refutation — 

Tearle. Of his 'libel on love." I think that is what I 
called it, and he had the effrontery to accept the challenge 
and the invitation. I remember I made every one present 
take note of the date and sign an agreement — wait a minute. 
I have that agreement stowed away somewhere in this room. 
(Goes to table and finds the paper in drawer.) Here it is. 
I say, old man, the engagement was for this very day. 

Fleming. For to-night ? 

Tearle. Yes. Poor old Morrow ! I only wish he could 
come back to receive my apologies. To think that I had 
forgotten! But, see here, Fleming. How about you and 
Mary? You were both signers of the bond. There's a pre- 
vious engagement for you — 

Fleming. I am awfully sorry, old man. You see, I had 
completely forgotten. I hope you understand? 

Tearle. Don't mention it, old chap. Of course I under- 
stand. Hadn't I forgotten it myself? Besides, it isn't as if 
anyone would come. If anyone should, he or she will be 
welcome, but — (Fleming rises to take his leave.) Must 
you go? 

Fleming. Come and see us soon. 

Tearle. I will. Give my regards to Mary. 

Fleming. I'll not fail. Good-bye. 

Tearle. Au revoir. (Exit Fleming L. U. E. Tearle 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 9 

seats himself in a nucha ir near the fire and falls into a 

reverie.) ^ ^ ,_ 

Enter Higgins. 

HiGGiNS. Are you ready for dinner, sir? 

Tearle. Wait a minute, Higgins. Let me see. {Con- 
sults paper containing dinner agreement.) Eight o'clock. 
{Looks at his watch.) It is now only seven. I'll wait until 
eight. I find that some people were invited to dine here 
to-night. I don't think they will come, but if they should it 
would be awkward not to have waited for them. {Seats 
himself in armchair near the fire with his back to the audi- 
ence and lights a cigar.) 

Higgins. If anyone comes am I to show them up, sir? 

Tearle {laughing). By all means. It is not at all likely, 
however. 

Higgins. Very well, sir. 

Tearle. You may turn ofif the lights, Higgins. 

Higgins. Very well, sir. {Turns off lights.) If anyone 
comes, what shall I do, sir? 

Tearle. Turn them on again, of course. 

Higgins. Very well, sir. Thank you, sir. {Exit L. U. E.) 

{ While the stage is in darkness a dummy takes the place of 
Tearle in the armchair to enable him to take part in the 
dream scene. There need be little change in Tearless 
make-up besides the remoz'al of his moustache and a change 
of wig. After an interval, hubbub of voices and laughter 
is heard outside back; then lights are turned on revealing 
through transparent back drop a dinner party in the dining- 
room, Tearle, Morrow, Van Orden, Lucy, Fleming and 
Guests. Young Tearle is on his feet, speaking. Shouts, 
laughter and applause. Cries of ''Hear, hear!" "Go onT) 
Tearle. And therefore, with due deference to Doctor 
Morrow's superior wisdom, and without in the least pre- 
summg to question the accuracy of his scientific observations 
or the logic of his deductions, I make bold to suggest that 
the field of a physician's experience is Hmited. He sees us 
at our worst; when we are ailing, distressed, querulous, 
anxious, abnormal. I venture to assert that at such times 



10 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

our conduct and actions do not fairly represent our true 
selves. Be that as it may, Miss Neville and I intend to 
refute Doctor Morrow's aspersions on love and marriage. 
{To LucY^ who is absorbed in an animated conversation 
with Van Orden.) Don't we, Lucy? 

Lucy {aside to her neighbor, unconscious that she has 
been spoken to). And so they agreed to disagree? 

Van Orden. Yes; she divorced him, don't you see? 

Lucy. Well, I think it served him just right. {They 
both laugh heartily, then suddenly become aware that every 
one is watching them.) What is it? What is the matter? 

Doctor Morrow. Miss Neville appears to be discuss- 
ing another branch of our subject, Mr. Tearle. 

Lucy. Were you speaking to me? 

Tearle {nettled). Doctor Morrow holds that marriage 
is a specific for love, and I want — with your sanction and 
my aunt's — to invite him and all our other friends here 
present to meet us again after a lapse of years to judge 
for themselves whether his libel — 

Lucy {coldly). Why, of course; invite our friends by 
all means. 

Tearle. Thank you, Lucy. How long a period of pro- 
bation will satisfy you, Doctor Morrow? 

Doctor Morrow. I might remind our young friend that 
the exception proves the rule, and that a man's chance of 
spoiling his life and that of other people ceases only when 
his life — as well as theirs — is done. But let us not be too 
exacting. I hope in four or five years to find Mr. and Mrs. 
Malcolm Tearle in a never waning honeymoon. 

Tearle. To make assurance doubly sure, our invitation 
is for fifteen years, day for day, from to-night. {Laughter, 
applause, cries of ''Hear, hear!'') Doctor Morrow — and all 
of you, my friends — may we count upon the pleasure of 
your company for that evening? 

Doctor Morrow {after applause has subsided). My dear 
young friend, in fifteen years from to-night — if I am still 
living — I shall be in my seventy-eighth year. Nevertheless 
I accept your invitation. If my colleagues have not previ- 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 11 

ously killed me, or if I find it possible to bribe Charon to 
ferry me back to the land of the living, I shall attend your 
feast. {Laughter and applause.) 

Tearle. Thank you, my friends. Lest we forget, I ask 
each one of you to make a note of this engagement, and in 
token of your promise to sign your names to the paper 
which I shall now hand around. {Shouts, laughter, general 
conversation while Tearle prepares the paper. The guests 
UTite in their notebooks or on their cuffs or tie knots in 
their handkerchiefs. Tearle starts the paper around for 
signatures. Lights go out. After an interval lights are 
turned up, revealing Tearle and Lucy alone in the library 
in C. of stage.) 

Lucy, Well, you had no business to embarrass me before 
all those people. 

Tearle. Embarrass you? I hadn't the slightest inten- 
tion to do so. Did you want me to let Doctor Morrow's 
aspersion pass without — 

Lucy. What have Doctor Morrow's opinions to do with 
us? 

Tearle. A great deal, apparently, since they are causing 
us to quarrel. 

Lucy. It is you who are quarreling. I am only saying 
that I object to being made a public laughing stock. 

Tearle. A laughing stock? 

Lucy. Yes, a laughing stock. Do you suppose a girl 
likes to have her intimate sentiments discussed in public? 
Besides, it was perfectly silly the smug way you went on 
before all those people. 

Tearle {offended). I am afraid, Lucy, that you made a 
mistake when you consented to marry me. 

Lucy. I begin to suspect that I did if you are going to — 

Tearle. The remedy is simple and entirely in your hands, 
Lucy. 

Lucy. You want to break off our engagement? Is that 
what you mean? 

Tearle. That is not what I said. 

Lucy. It is what you implied. 



12 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

Tearle. If you will excuse my saying so, it is nothing 
of the sort. It is you, evidently, who are tiring of your 
bond. I have suspected it for some time. 

Lucy. Suspected? What do you mean by that? 

Tearle. Oh, you needn't think I have been blind to the 
way you have been flirting and carrying on with that young 
jackanapes. Van Orden. 

Lucy. Oh ! Flirting and carrying on ! 

Tearle. Yes, flirting and carrying on. Everybody has 
noticed it. 

Lucy. Oh! you — you — 

Tearle. Even just now at the dinner, when I was fool- 
ishly standing up for you — 

Lucy. Oh, this is too much ! You needn't think I mean 
to accept your insults any longer. You want to break off 
our engagement? Very well, then, I release you. (Takes 
off her engagement ring and throzvs it dozvn on the floor.) 
There's your ring. Take it to someone else who is willing 
to be ridiculed and flouted and — and insulted. That's the 
end — you understand — the end. {Exit angrily L. U. E.) 

Tearle. Lucy! Lucy! {Starts to follow her, then re- 
turns to C, picks up ring, looks at it zmstftdly for an instant, 
then zvith an angry gesture puts it into his pocket. Lights off. 
Tearle takes his place again in the armchair. Changes to 
original make-up. After an interval ri/ng at front doorbell.) 

Enter Higgins, L. U. E. 

HiGGiNS. Are you there, Mr. Tearle? 

Tearle {in his sleep). Lucy! 

Higgins. Mr. Tearle! 

Tearle {zvaking zvith a start). Eh? What? What is it? 
I think I must have dozed. 

Higgins. Beg pardon, sir, you said if anyone came I was 
to show them up, sir. 

Tearle. Yes, yes ; of course. Who is it, Higgins ? Turn 
on the lights. Show him up, whoever he is. (Higgins 
turns on the lights. Exit L. U. E.) 

Re-enter Higgins^ follozved by Lucy. 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 13 

HiGGiNS. Mrs. Van Orden. (Exit L. U. E.) 

Tearle (starts up and stands staring at Lucy until Hig- 
Gms is gone.) Lucy! 

Lucy. Malcolm ! 

Tearle. Then you — you remembered? 

Lucy. Remembered? Did you think I would not know 
you? Remembered what? What do you mean? 

Tearle. Then you had forgotten? 

Lucy. Forgotten what? 

Tearle. May I ask to what I owe the honor and pleas- 
ure of your visit, my dear Mrs. Van Orden? 

Lucy. You? Oh, you thought — ? 

Tearle. I hoped — 

Lucy {laughing). Oh, I see. I am sorry, but you flat- 
tered yourself, my dear Malcolm. I hadn't the faintest idea 
that you were in this part of the world. How long have 
you been back? 

Tearle (looks at his watch). An hour and thirty-five 
minutes. Then your call — ? 

Lucy. I have come to whisk your aunt and cousins ofif 
to the opera. I hope that Mrs. Ferguson will invite me to 
dinner; or, if she cannot be prevailed upon to do that, that 
she will let me take her off somewhere to — there is room 
for you, you know. I hope you can join our party. 

Tearle. You are very kind — 

Lucy. You accept? 

Tearle. No, I am sorry, but a previous engagement — 

Lucy. Say no more. I prefer you frank. 

Tearle. Frank ? But I assure you — as for my aunt — 

Lucy. Oh, come ; you have answered for yourself ; that 
is all you are entitled to do. I will take Mrs. Ferguson's 
answer from her own lips, if you please. 

Tearle. As you wish. Have you her telephone number? 
If not, Higgins doubtless has. 

Lucy. Her telephone number? 

Tearle. My aunt and cousins are at Palm Beach. They 
left last Friday. Probably she didn't have time to write 
you. 



14 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

Lucy (rising). Why, then, there is nothing more to be 
said, except good-night, unless — can't I prevail upon you to 
change your mind about coming to the opera with, me ? 

Tearle., I should be delighted ; but, as I told you — 

Lucy. Oh, yes, I had already forgotten that previous 
engagement. How ''previous" did you say it was? 

Tearle. I don't think I said. It is of long standing. 

Lucy. Let me see. You have been in New Yoik an 
hour and — 

Tearle (looks at his zvafch). Thirty-nine minutes, to be 
precise. 

Lucy. So the engagement must be over an hour old? 

Tearle. It dates back to the night I last saw you, Lucy — 
fifteen years ago. 

Lucy. Fifteen years — 

Tearle. Yes, do you remember it? 

Lucy. The day? Of course. 

Tearle. The engagement? 

Lucy. You mean — 

Tearle. No, not ours. I mean this engagement. (Hands 
her paper. Lucy reads it, then sits in armchair and remains 
thoughtful zvhile Tearle observes her.) You had forgotten? 

Lucy. Yes; and you remembered? 

Tearle. No. To be candid, I, too, had forgotten. It 
was only by accident that it all came back to me. But you 
see why I cannot go to the opera with you. 

Lucy. But of course no one will come — no one will re- 
member. 

Tearle. Probably not. Nevertheless — at all events, since 
you are here it is your obvious duty to stay and help me 
entertain — 

Lucy. Those who will not come? 

Tearle. Well, at any rate, that one who is here. 

Lucy. Meaning yourself ? 

Tearle. Precisely. 

Lucy. Of course I cannot do that. 

Tearle. Pray enlighten my denseness. Why "of 
course" ? 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 15 

Lucy. My dear Malcolm, it is evident that you have 
long dwelt in the part of the world in which Mrs. Grundy 
is unknown. 

Tearle. Oh ! The proprieties ? You think that your 
dining here — 

Lucy. With you, en tete-a-tete? Decidedly. 

Tearle. Oh ! en tete-a-tete ! You forget that the table 
is set for six. 

Lucy. Mrs. Grundy would remember only that I had 
dined and spent the evening unchaperoned with the still 
young, still handsome, still — dangerous Malcolm Tearle, who 
once upon a time — of course Mrs. Grundy would not know 
how completely you had forgotten that time. 

Tearle. Forgotten? I? 

Lucy. Didn't you candidly admit that you had? 

Tearle. Never. The only thing I had forgotten w^as the 
fact that I had ever been the simpleton who truculently cast 
his callow optimism in the face of experience ; that I had 
once had the temerity to invite that wise old cynic, Doctor 
Morrow, to come here to-night to witness the felicity of a 
perfect marriage. No, I have not forgotten, Lucy. How 
often have I wished that I could forget ! 

Lucy. You still hate me? 

Tearle. Hate you? I never hated you. 

Lucy. Are you sure of that? 

Tearle. Perfectly. Moreover, who are you ? Do I even 
know you? 

Lucy. That's most unkind. Have I changed so com- 
pletely ? 

Tearle. You have scarcely changed at all. And yet I 
do not feel that I know you. I once knew^ — or thought I 
knew — a girl who looked wonderfully like you. I loved 
that girl, Lucy, as I never shall love again. 

Lucy. Do you expect me to believe that in all these 
years — 

Tearle. I expect nothing. The fact, remains, however, 
that I have loved no other woman, because — well, because 
I could not forcet. 



16 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

Lucy. You speak of ''that girl" as if she were dead. 

Tearle. Whether she is dead or has never lived, I don't 
know. Be that as it may, she has dwelt in my heart ever 
since, and I want her to remain there — ahvays. (Pause.) 
See here, Lucy, do you mean to say that suddenly, after that 
last evening, you stopped caring even one little bit? 

Lucy. Caring? I cried my eyes out. 

Tearle. But you never manifested the slightest regret. 

Lucy. To you ? Why should I ? Hadn't you deliberately 
taken yourself cut of my life ? 

Tearle. There was precious little deliberation about my 
going. Moreover, I merely took you at your word. 

Lucy. Literalness was ever your besetting — virtue, Mal- 
colm. 

Tearle. Lucy ! Do you mean to say that you didn't 
intend — 

Lucy. Who knows what I intended ? I didn't then. How 
can I now? (A pause.) 

Tearle. Moreover, I wTOte you on board the steamer. 
I gave my letter to a fellow passenger to mail at our first 
port of call. He was a young Russian, I remember. 

Lucy. I judged so from the fact that the letter was 
post-marked St. Petersburg. 

Tearle. St. Petersburg? But it was at Havana he landed. 

Lucy. Your friend was probably absent-minded as well 
as Russian. The letter reached me over a year after it was 
written. 

Tearle. He had forgotten to mail it ! 

Lucy. Let us be just. He remembered — a year too late, 
that is all. I had then been married nearly a month. (Long 
pause. ) 

Tearle. That's why you never answered? 

Lucy. That's why I never mailed any of my answers. 
I wrote at least a dozen. What was there to say or do? 
"The mill will never grind again with the water that has 
passed." (Long pause.) 

Tearle (fervently). Lucy! 

Lucy (tremulously). Yes, Malcolm. 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 17 

Tearle. Whatever may be true of the past, the future 
is ours to make or mar. 

Lucy. Yes, Malcolm ; to make or mar, 

Tearle. You loved me once, dear, and I have loved you 
always. Don't you think you could, if you tried, love me 
again — a little? 

Lucy. Ah! Malcolm dear! But ought I? Would that 
make or mar? 

Tearle. Lucy, if only you love me — 

Lucy. I do, Malcolm ; that's just it. I love you. But 
are you sure that you love nie, and not only the girl who 
■looks so wonderfully like me — the girl who has lived in 
your heart all these years, and who never was I ? 

Tearle. Who zvas you, Lucy — who is you — who will 
always be you! (Takes her in his arms.) Ah, Lucy, when 
I think of the years we have wasted! (Takes from his 
pocket an engagement ring and holds it up to her.) It is 
the same one, dear. 

Lucy. The engagement ring you gave me! 

Tearle. I have carried it about me ever since you re- 
turned it to me that night. 

Lucy. It shall never leave me again. 

Tearle (slipping ring upon her finger). Till death do 
us part. (Pause.) When shall it be, my darling? 

Lucy. What, dear? 

Tearle. Our marriage. After all these years you will 
not keep me waiting any longer than is absolutely necessary? 

Lucy. No, dear. It shall be as soon as you like. 

Tearle. At once, then. 

Lucy. I must, of course, have time to get ready. I must 
have clothes. 

Tearle. Clothes? I am sure you have plenty of clothes. 
What need to wait for more? 

Lucy. You dear, impractical boy! Your wife must be 
presentable. I cannot have you ashamed of her. 

Tearle. Presentable? I mean to bear you off into the 
wilderness where I can have you to myself — where I can 



18 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

make up for the lost years. There will be no one to present 
you to. 

Lucy. What do you mean ? 

Tearle. We'll go into the Canadian wilds for our hon- 
eymoon, and after that — when my leave of absence expires 
— you will come back with me to Brazil, won't you? 

Lucy. The Canadian wilds? Brazil? 

Tearle. Yes, dear. I shall of course have to go on with 
my work. What is the matter, darling? 

Lucy. Oh, I never could do that. 

Tearle. What do you mean, Lucy ? 

Lucy. Live in the wilderness. Of course, if you cared 
very much to camp out for a short time in Canada, I should 
try for your sake to like it. But Brazil — 

Tearle. Of course it would not always be possible for 
you to accompany me into the jungle; but then you would 
live in the nearest town, and I should come back to you as 
often as possible. 

Lucy. Oh, I couldn't. And besides, there are the chil- 
dren. 

Tearle. The children, dear? 

Lucy. Yes, my children — Tom and Agnes. You knew, 
didn't you? 

Tearle. No, I didn't know. 

Lucy. I could not take them into the wilderness, and of 
course I could not leave them. What's the matter, Malcolm ? 
You are not vexed ? 

Tearle. No, of course not ; but — 

Lucy. You see, don't you, that I couldn't go with you 
to Brazil ? Besides, I could never be happy, for any length 
of time, away from New York. 

Tearle. Not even with your husband, Lucy ? 

Lucy. But don't you see, my husband wouldn't be with 
me most of the time? You would have your work when you 
w^ere away. But what would remain to me in a frontier 
town in a foreign country? 

Tearle. But, darling, what have you to propose ? 

Lucy. Don't you think you could find a position here? 



THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 19 

Tearle. Give up my life's work? Impossible, dear. Be- 
sides, I am under contract for five years — 

Lucy. Would the breaking of that contract involve so 
serious a pecuniary loss that — 

Tearle. A pecuniary loss! It's my personal honor that 
is involved. 

Lucy (hurt). Oh, of course, beside that nothing else 
counts, I suppose. 

Tearle. Of course not. What do you mean, Lucy ? 

Lucy. Oh, nothing. Only after listening to your pro- 
testations I was foolish enough to think— 

Tearle. That I would commit a dishonorable act ? 

Lucy. To think that your alleged love for me would 
have some slight weight in the balance. 

Tearle. But, Lucy, don't you see? 

Lucy. Oh, yes; I see all too plainly that you do not 
•really care for me. 

Tearle. Lucy, how can you say that? 

Lucy. If you did — 

Tearle (bitterly). It is you who are unwiUing to make 
the slightest sacrifice — 

Lucy. The slightest sacrifice! My children! While all 
I ask of you — 

Tearle. Is my life's work as well as my honor. (Pause.) 

Lucy. Malcolm, dear. 

Tearle. Yes, Lucy. 

Lucy. Don't let us quarrel again. 

Tearle. No, Lucy. Forgive me, darling. I ought not 
to have said — 

Lucy. Ah! My dear! I have nothing to forgive you. 
But don't you see, Malcolm, this is not a lover's quarrel, 
to be patched up by a kiss? 

Tearle. Don't say that, Lucy. 

Lucy. Yes, dear, we have made a mistake. Fortunately 
it is not too late. {Remores the engagement ring and holds 
it out to him.) 

Tearle. Lucy! Don't! I can't lose you again. Any sac 
rifice is better than that. I will do as you wish. 



20 THE WATER THAT HAS PASSED 

Lucy. No, dear. I can't accept that sacrifice 

Tearle. But I will gladly make it. 

Lucy. Malcolm dear, it is beyond your power to make 
it without reserve. It would surely come between us in 
time and destroy our happiness. 

Tearle. Lucy, I assure you — 

Lucy. I don't doubt your sincerity, Malcolm. But I, 
know, dear. Believe me, it is better so. {Forces the ring 
into his hands.) 

Tearle. Lucy ! 

Lucy. You see I want you to continue to love that 
girl of the long ago who looks so wonderfully like me, and 
whom you would soon forget if I were to take her place; 
for she is not I, dear. You would soon discover that, and — 
and — I don't want you to. 

Tearle (holds out his arms to her). Lucy! 

Lucy (evades him). No, dear. You will come to see 
that it is best. Good-bye. (Exit L. U. E.) 

Tearle. Lucy! My darling! (Stands C. as if dazed. 
Sees ring in Jiis hand, looks at it ivist fully, then holds it to 
his lips and puts it in Jiis pocket. Slozdy makes his zvay 
to the armchair and sits staring into the fire. Reaching out 
his arms toward the fire.) Lucy! Lucy! 

Enter H^iggins^ L. U. E. 

HiGGiNS. Did you call, sir? 

Tearle. Eh? What? No, Higgins. I didn't call you. 

HiGGiNS. Beg pardon, sir ; thought you did, sir. Dinner 
is served, sir. (Exit back into dining-room.) 

Tearle (rises to follow Higgins). "The mill will never 
grind again with the water that has passed." 

Curtain. 



DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Price 15 Cents Each, Postpaid, Unless Different Price Is Given 



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Winning Widow, 2 acts, U-i hrs. 

(25c) 2 4 

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Assessor, The, 10 min 3 2 

Baby Show at Pineville, 20 min. 19 

Billy's Chorus Girl, 25 min... 2 3 

Billy's Mishap, 20 min 2 3 

Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min.. 5 

Borrowing Trouble, 20 min.... 3 5 

Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 
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Co\v that Kicked Chicago, 20 m. 3 2 

Divided Attentions, 35 min 1 4 

Dude in a Cyclone, 20 min 4 2 

Familv Strike, 20 min 3 3 

First-CIass Hotel, 20 min 4 

For Love and Honor, 20 min.. 2 1 

Fudge and a Burglar, 15 min.. 5 
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Great Pumpkin Case, 30 min.. 12 

Hans \'on Smash, 30 min.... 4 3 

I'm Not Mesilf at All, 25 min. 3 2 
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Kansas Immigrants, 20 min... 5 1 

Men Not Wanted, 30 min 8 

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Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 

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Mrs. .Stubbins' Book Agent, 30 m. 3 2 

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min 3 6 

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Uncle Dick's Mistake, 20 min.. 3 2 

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Booster Club of Blackville, 25 m.lO 

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Coon Creek Courtship, 15 min. 1 

Coming Champion, 20 min.... 2 
Coontown Thirteen Club, 25 m. 14 

Counterfeit Bills, 20 min 1 

Darktown Fire Brigade, 25 min. 10 

Doings of a Dude, 20 min.... 2 

Dutch Cocktail, 20 min 2 

For Reform, 20 min 4 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min.. 2 

Glickman, the Glazier, 25 min. 1 

C.ood Mornin' Judge, 35 min.. 9 

Her Hero, 20 min 1 

Hey, Rube! 15 min 1 

Home Run, 15 min 1 

Jumbo Jum, 30 min 4 

Little Red School House, 20 m. 4 

Love and Lather, 35 min 3 

IVIarriage and After, 10 min.. 1 

Memohis Mo.=e. 25 min 5 

Mischievous Nigger, 25 min.. 4 

Mistaken Miss, 20 min 1 

Mr. ^nd Mrs. Fido, 20 min 1 

O'l, Doctor! 30 min 6 2 

One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. 2 

Oshkosh Next Week, 20 min . . 4 

Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

Pete Yansen's Curl's Moder, 10m. 1 

Pickles for Two, 15 min 2 

Pooh Bah of Peacetown, 35 niin. 2 2 

Prof. Black's Funnygraph, IS m. 6 

Sham Doctor, 10 min 4 2 

Si and I, 15 min 1 

Special Sale, 15 min 2 

Stage Struck Darky, 10 min.. 2 1 

Sunny Son of Italy, 15 min.. 1 

Time Table, 20 min 1 1 

Tramp and the Actress. 20 min. 1 1 

Troubled by Ghosts, 10 min... 4 

Troubles of Rozinski, 15 m;n.. 1 

Two Jay Detectives, 1 5 min . . ^ 

Umbrella Mender, 15 min.... 2 

Uncle Jeff, 25 min 5 2 

What Happened to Hannah, 15m. 1 T 



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